Working While Studying for the Bar Exam

GUEST BLOG by Brian C. Pike, Esq.
Passed the New York Bar Exam, Michigan Bar Exam, and Tennessee Bar Exam
Associate General Counsel at Baker Donelson

Should I work while I prepare to take the bar exam? If you ever ask a practicing attorney this question, they undoubtedly will fall into two heavily defended camps: (1) in moderation; or (2) no, not at all. My take? I think it is entirely a personal decision.

I had the tremendous opportunity to work with an amazing group of people at BARBRI while studying for the bar exam as a social media intern. It truly was a wonderful experience to learn from and I’m honored to pass along a few of the tips I garnered along the way. Beyond the lessons and examples provided here of my own bar prep experience, it will be helpful to ask yourself: Should I work while studying for the bar exam? Then assess your best path forward.

• Be honest with yourself. I think this is the hardest lesson learned and is the reason why I listed it first. As BARBRI will tell you, studying for the bar exam is difficult. I describe it as boot camp for your brain. However, don’t let that discourage you. You should listen when your instructors say it is an honor to take the bar exam — you’ve worked really hard to get where you are. And along the way, you’ve made habits that work for you. Don’t give in to peer pressure to abandon those habits. This goes double for when it comes to studying certain subjects. BARBRI will give you wonderful tools to help you improve in your areas of weakness. That’s what your Personal Study Plan is all about. Giving you what you need to study, when you need it, based on your study habits for the greatest impact.
  
  For me: I’ve always been the type of person to overload myself and burn out. Fortunately, I have a wonderful support person who helped me realize when I needed to take a break. I built into my schedule a number of breaks to unwind and refresh my brain. If you study for an hour, take a 10-minute break to watch a cat video or, even better, get up and enjoy some fresh air.

• Make a schedule. No matter what your study habits are, making a schedule is important. BARBRI will give you a great outline (again, thanks to your Personal Study Plan) of what topics you will study and when, but get into the habit — especially if you are balancing work — of planning out your week in a way that fits your schedule and learning style.
  
  For me: I made a rough outline for the entire process of studying for the bar. On Sunday, I would sit down and see what needed to be moved around and to make myself aware of the work deadlines I had for that week.

• Be honest with those around you. This goes for both your employer (if you should choose to work) and your friends and family. Share your schedule with your boss(es) and your loved ones so they have an idea of what you are up against. If your boss wants you to take on a new assignment, don’t be afraid to say that it might not be possible because you have Property coming up this week.
  
  For me: I shared my weekly plan with my bosses and those who I spent a significant amount of time with. This allowed me to stick to my schedule and not over-commit in any one area. Plus, if something really interesting came up at work, I could use my breaks to tackle it as a mental refresher.

• Don’t be your own worst enemy. The bar exam is entirely a mental game, and the game begins when you study. It is completely possible to have a full-time job and study for the bar exam. But you have to know when to turn it off for the night. Studying for the bar exam is about being honest with yourself on what works for you and what doesn’t, what areas you really know, and which ones you need to spend more time on.
  
  For me: I’m the type of person who thrives on lists. I completed between 95-100% of the assigned work from BARBRI. Just know that many of those assignments are given as guidelines. You might need to spend the full 3-4 hours reviewing your notes on a topic area you don’t totally grasp. You might need less time in another area. What I did was cranked it up in the last two weeks. I toned down my actual work to 0 and turned my studying up to 100. Find the balance that will leave you feeling satisfied when you call it a day.

It’s really up to you to ask yourself some thought-provoking questions: What’s right for me? Will I let one area of my focus slip more than another? Do I feel comfortable sticking to a tight schedule? Am I afraid of disappointing those with whom I work?

I believe it’s possible to work and study for the bar. The ultimate question for you is how much you think you can work and still feel happy with your study progress.